TÜV SÜD Acquires Dunbar and Boardman Partnership

TÜV SÜD has acquired Dunbar and Boardman Partnership Ltd., the UK-based consulting and planning services provider for the lift, escalator and access equipment sector. Dunbar and Boardman has its headquarters in London, with further offices in the UK, Dublin and Dubai. This will allow TÜV SÜD to continue to expand its real-estate services in the UK and its global network.

"Dunbar and Boardman's portfolio of services is the perfect match for our company," says Dr Ulrich Klotz, Head of TÜV SÜD's Real Estate & Infrastructure Division. "In recent years we have made enormous progress in creating an integrated range of consulting services and our customers are the primary beneficiaries. By acquiring the company, we can achieve several strategic objectives at once."

These objectives span further consolidation of TÜV SÜD's position on the UK real-estate market, as well as the company's plans for global establishment and expansion of consulting services from its Real Estate & Infrastructure Division.

"TÜV SÜD's acquisition of Dunbar and Boardman has given us the status of market leader," explains Michael Valente, CEO of the Western Europe Region at TÜV SÜD.

With almost 60 employees at 12 locations in the UK, and further offices in Dublin and Dubai, Dunbar and Boardman provides a full range of consulting services for the installation, operation and maintenance of lift systems. TÜV SÜD thus now occupies an excellent starting-position from which to roll out further services in the UK and extend its integrated consulting services for the real-estate sector to this market.

"Vertical Transport and Facade Access inspections are areas of core business for TÜV SÜD," notes Peter Boardman, co-founder of Dunbar and Boardman Partnership Ltd. "I am therefore delighted that our company can extend this core business into consultancy and continue our successful development under the umbrella of the TÜV SÜD Group. We look forward to contributing our experience and advancing the range of consultancy services on offer."

About TUV SUD

TÜV SÜD is a premium quality, safety, and sustainability solutions provider that specialises in testing, inspection, auditing, certification, training, and knowledge services. Since 1866, the company has remained committed to its founding principle of protecting people, property and the environment from technology-related risks. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, TÜV SÜD is represented in more than 800 locations worldwide. http://www.tuv-sud.com
 

SOURCE TÜV SÜD

What should you consider when choosing a car lift? 5 Pointers

Just a few short years ago the general perception of residential car lifts were that they were fantastic devices owned by fictional characters such as Batman and James Bond. In reality both residential and commercial vehicle lifts have been with us for quite some time. Infamously Mitt Romney changed all that in 2012 and threw a spotlight on vehicle lifts when during the American presidential election of 2012 it emerged that he had ordered a car lift for his southern California home.  Car lifts are a smart solution for businesses or individuals that need vertical transportation for vehicles. Do you know what should you consider when choosing a car lift? We have listed 5 pointers below.

1. Dimensions and Weight of Vehicles

It seems obvious but it is important to know the exact dimensions and weight of the vehicles being transported. Any lift chosen will need to have the appropriate load capacity.

2. Dimensions of Lift Car

Similarly the exact dimensions of the lift car will need checked and double –checked: lifting capacity, height and width. Will this lift fit within the property? Does it meet the compulsory legislative requirements of The Lifts Directive, designed in accordance with the EN81/1or EN81/2 standards? Can the vehicle car door be opened?

3. What features are needed for the car lift?

There are a lot of permutations for your car lift; Which power system and door arrangement for should you choose? Do you need all or some of the following: traffic lights at entrance levels, Remote 'key-fob' controls, 'Strip' switch controls to side walls? An oil heater for cold morning starts, Oil cooler allowing increased use, Faster speeds for long travel heights, ventilation for the car and shaft?

However, not all car lifts need to be Hydraulically operated.

4. Reputation of Supplier

There are lots of car lift manufacturers in the marketplace with a wide variety of prices. You will need to do your due diligence before selecting a supplier and without specialist knowledge it can be difficult to properly assess the merits of one supplier against another.  

5. Warranty & Maintenance

What is the full extent of the warranty being provided by the manufacturer? How will the car lift be maintained? These are both essential questions to be answered prior to committing to a car lift solution. You must also consider how often the car lift should be assessed for wear and tear. It is essential that all owners area aware that 6 monthly LOLER inspections being a mandatory requirement.

Dunbar and Boardman is the lift, escalator and access equipment consultancy. We have extensive experience of projects including car lifts and can help you make the right choice. For one car lift project we made the vertical parting door system automatic and avoided the need for constant pressure controls. This improved the use of the lift. One current project requires delivery lorries and refuse trucks to be taken from the street to an underground loading bay.

Do you have a current or planned project that includes car lifts? We would be happy to discuss any such requirements and how we may be able to assist. Give us a call on T +44 (0) 20 7739 5093 or send us an email via peterboardman@dunbarboardman.com to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Spotlight On: Liverpool

Over the last 30 years Dunbar and Boardman has delivered many projects throughout the world and lots of those have been in the UK.  D & B’s first Liverpool–based project was in the 1980s.  We initially worked with HH + J Robinson (now CBRE) mainly on buildings owned by Equity and Law (now Axa). We also reported and advised on St Johns Tower, again for HH + J Robinson on behalf of the owners Land Securities. We then worked extensively with local agencies such as Edmund Kirby (now Matthews and Goodman) on India Building amongst other sites.

The recent Liverpool Conference was in conjunction with the International Festival of Business successfully organised by UK property forums & Matt Battle. The conference clearly demonstrated how successfully Liverpool has transformed itself.  Once a conventional historic port Liverpool is now a modern commercial city within an industrial fringe.  We wish to congratulate UK Property Forums and Matt Battle for a wonderful conference and Keppie Massie for the tour and dinner themes.

It is also worth pointing out that in addition to these historical projects we have quite a lot of recent and current projects in Liverpool as you can see by the list below:

Recent D & B Projects in Liverpool include:

• We advised on the John Lewis roll-out programme which included Liverpool and supported WSP on the Liverpool One development.

• Mersey Tunnels – installed new lift at Wallasey Stores building and a full modernisation of passenger lifts at Wallasey Police and Tolls terminal 

• University of Liverpool – new install of passenger lift and 1 VPL at LORI Project

• Belle Vale Shopping Centre – full modernisation of Mall passenger lift

• Broadgreen Hospital – installation of a bed/passenger lift

• RBS/NWB Skelmersdale – new bullion lift

•  The Capital Building (formerly Royal Insurance HQ) modernisation of the main group of lifts.

• Port of Liverpool Building  - Grade II* listed  – 5 full replacements 2010

• Cunard Building - Grade II* listed – 6  major modernisations 2005 

• Maritime Museum – Part of Albert Dock – Grade 1 listed -  hydraulic modernisations 2007

We also handle the Maintenance Management for the National Museums Liverpool which includes the Museum of Liverpool. 

Do you have a current or planned project in the Liverpool area? We would be happy to discuss any such requirements and how we may be able to assist. Please contact us visit our Warrington Office and ask for Vance Cunningham to start the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Liverpool Vision, 10th floor, The Capital, 39 Old Hall Street,   Liverpool, L3 9PP